36 state governors of Nigeria, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), have gathered for a critical meeting at the National Secretariat of the NGF in Abuja.
Key issues on the agenda include the National Minimum Wage and local government autonomy, amidst ongoing discussions by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage.
This marathon meeting aims to align the governors on these pressing issues, with updates and strategies to be shared. The agenda also includes the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) disbursement to states.
The federal government recently took legal action against the governors at the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The suit, marked SC/CV/343/2024, was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. It seeks full autonomy for LGAs as the third tier of government and requests orders to stop governors from dissolving elected local government leaders and to direct funds to LGAs from the Federation Account.
Early arrivals at the meeting include the governors of Oyo, Zamfara, Anambra, Delta, and Gombe States, as well as the Deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom and Borno States.
The detailed agenda covers a wide range of issues:
- Chairman’s Welcome Remarks
- Minutes of the Last Meeting
- Matters Arising/Chairman’s Briefs
- Local Government Autonomy Update II
- ECA, PPT & Royalties Accounts Reconciliation/Debt Net-Off — Update
- Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage — Update
- Review of NEC Agenda
- Updates by NGF Secretariat — Acting Director General
- Program Updates: Health/HCD F. Presentations, World Bank NG-CARES, SABER, Nigeria for Women — Taimur Samad, Acting Country Director
- Presidential — Ministerial and Any Other Business (AOB)
The outcome of this meeting is eagerly anticipated, as it addresses crucial issues affecting governance and financial administration in Nigeria.